London, 1820
Fitzwilliam Darcy, proud father of two and husband to one, sat in his London study in a chair facing away from the window and at a desk kept in order, despite the efforts of his inquisitive children.
He was surprised at how many bills he could receive in such a short time; fabric for two small children who never stopped growing could only be mended so many times without looking like a degradation on the Darcy name.
The Darcy family had recently returned to London, quite reluctantly, as the death of King George III and the ascension of his unruly son had caused uncertainty in the country. Darcy was never one to shirk his duty to his family's fortune or standing, so he hauled his wife and two small children across the country in one of the worst winters he could remember so he might be better placed to deal with any repercussions to his business investments. Even his aunt in Kent, Lady Catherine, felt the cold. The weather made everything difficult, only made worse by the attentions two small children needed over a long period of travel.
On the other side of the desk sat one of the aforementioned children, a small girl in a big chair, Annabeth Darcy to be precise. 5 years old, she already had her head stuck in a book, trying to be quiet for her father who was trying to get some work done. He thought the tale, about a boy named Jack and a beanstalk was too dark and complex for such an age, but his dear wife Elizabeth thought it was never too young to learn moral tales. He privately thought that if nightmares arose, he would probably have to comfort his darling daughter in the night, attached to him as she was.
There was another reason little Annabeth insisted on sitting around so long…
The door opened and the butler announced Colonel Fitzwilliam, cousin, and long-time friend of Darcy. The gentleman was still a Colonel, much to his frustration despite temporarily being made Brigadier during the final months against Bonaparte. The end of the continental wars made advancement even more difficult since the number of troops and officers was reduced so drastically in relative peacetime.
"You're late," a precocious and loud voice piped up from her seat. "I've been waiting all morning for you to arrive".
"My apologies, my dear Miss Darcy, but I do have my own men to order about before putting myself under your command," the officer replied with a smile for his young cousin-come-goddaughter-come-honorary niece, and an eye on his favourite male companion, who had only managed to stand up and bow before his little angel spoke for he could get a word in.
He dared not mention to the child's father that her manner was a little Lady Catherine-like, even when peppered with pigtails and a charming smile.
"You promised to take me on an outing to the park months ago, and I've been waiting ever since," she exasperated.
"Annabeth, you must be patient. Your uncle's hours are not his own. You'll have plenty of time in the coming weeks," interrupted Darcy.
"Hmmph," came a little strop. She quickly returned to her book but was really only interested in the adult conversation to come.
Darcy shook his head and was torn between letting this petulance go uncorrected and ignoring it. Instead, he looked to his cousin and greeted him at last with a handshake before going back to his seat, looking very much like the grand master he was.
"Darcy, I hope you travelled well. Where are the other ladies and your boy?", the colonel asked as he sat down opposite his host.
"Elizabeth and Georgiana have gone to assist Mrs Gardiner. Mr Gardiner's good position has allowed him to finance a fine finishing school for his two eldest girls in their last years as minors, so his wife thought to take Georgiana's experience on board to select the right establishment," Darcy responded.
"Did young Thomas need to attend with them? I thought he'd be more interested in playing with his tin soldiers I bought him," Fitzwilliam cheeked.
"He thought a gentleman was needed to protect the ladies, despite the footmen outfitted with the carriage," Darcy laughed. "I think he simply doesn't want to leave his mama's side. He has not been parted from her all winter. We shall have to distract him with more manly pursuits."
"I can do those too!" a pipsqueak chirped.
"Of course you can, darling, you're a Darcy after all," her proud father boasted, to the amusement of his cousin.
The Colonel barely got comfortable in his seat before there was another interruption and another little imp ran through the door.
"Papa, papa!" enthused 3-year-old Thomas George Darcy, named after his two grandfathers, but as mischievous as his mother, as he ran headlong to his sire, who stood in advance of the ladies entering the room. "I went to school! Can I go to school too?"
His mother and aunt Georgiana straggled in, barely catching a breath as they chased the boy in from the carriage. Elizabeth caught his last words and was already thinking of when she would have to watch him leave home in many years to come. She wanted him to stay hers forever.
"In a few years, son. You will need to grow some more first," Darcy told the boy as he picked him up so he could be part of the conversation on a more equal level. In fact, the headmaster of Eton had already been efficiently informed of Darcy's intention to send Thomas there in some years' time, as if a young man of his name would not be accepted on the day.
"I've already grown THIS much," he proudly showed the room with his hands.
"You don't want to grow too tall, Tommy, or I won't be able to kiss you on the cheek!" his mother, Elizabeth, teased as she moved into the chair her husband had vacated.
"I will always bend down for you, mama. And you auntie G."
Colonel Fitzwilliam chortled out loud, whilst also thinking about what he had missed while he was away, chasing the Frenchman's armies across the Iberian Peninsula. His position was comfortable to support a family if you were not accustomed to the standards he was as the son of an Earl, but men of his rank were rarely selfless. Besides, he thought, how difficult it would be to leave a wife behind thousands of miles away if he really cared for her. First, he required a lady of good position and fortune to meet his needs, then he would have to ask his commanding officer permission to marry before the deed was done. This paragon of a woman would definitely not denigrate herself to following the army train to wash his linens. In which case, what was the point of him marrying when he could find all the company he needed in his home country for half the cost of a wife.
His youngest cousin, Georgiana, now a young woman herself and courting a Derbyshire neighbour, moved into his vacated seat. Before he could think too seriously about the lack of affection in his own life, he started a conversation quietly about the upcoming season and her winter at Pemberley while the married couple discussed their days so far.
Darcy had one arm around his son and took the hand of his wife in the other.
"Did you have a successful morning, my love?" Darcy spoke to his wife of six years.
"My aunt is still debating whether there is any benefit to a girls' finishing school, and whether or not they should hire a more experienced governess instead. The last thing she wants is for the girls to turn out like Miss Bingley!" Elizabeth scoffed in a laughing but not mean tone.
"I'm confident you two and Georgiana will be successful in aiding her. You have a few months to decide yet before the new term begins. I'll ask a few acquaintances of mine for their opinions."
"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled back, assured they would solve the issue soon. It would put her in good stead for preparing for her daughter's own education, already maturing so fast. She did not forget that her husband had already raised his sister as his own before. She felt incredibly lucky to have a partner who cared about his household more than his pursuits. Mrs Darcy was no longer a smart girl, but an intelligent woman successfully navigating the social scenes of town and country. Wife and mother were titles she bore with pride.
Little Thomas wriggled to be let down from his father's arms and ran to his sister who still pretending to read in the wing-backed chair. He struggled to pull himself up but was stubborn enough to not ask for help. The two of them were now squeezed together like peas in a pod. Their parents paused their conversation when they noticed the rare peace between siblings of such a close age and smiled at one another for the perfection they had created together. A noisy perfection, but they would not have it any other way.
The Colonel nudged Georgiana as she went to ring for tea. Her usually impeccably mannered sister was clearly distracted by the lock on her brother's forehead to bother. "Should we leave the room, do you think, Georgie? I've seen enough of these silent displays to know they last a while," he pondered.
"Yes, let us. Why don't we take the children to the park? They do not settle in the afternoon without some excitement. I cannot tell who they take after more, sometimes," Georgiana laughed lightly. "I'll ask the nurse to gather their outdoor clothes," she said without waiting for an answer before leaving the room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam, decorated war hero of the 18th Royal Hussars, with the scars to prove it, crept towards the children babbling to one another. He bowed and propositioned them with "Dear cousins, I have come to rescue you from this tedium. If you follow me, I shall lead you to freedom and fresh air!"
Annabeth Darcy got down and put her hands on her hips. "Finally, I don't know what took you so long! Anyone knows what mama and papa are like!" she retorted before taking her brother's hand and marching out of the overcrowded room. He followed the children before they could sweet talk the butler to open the door without him.
As he closed the door, he heard Elizabeth Darcy confirm her suspicions to her husband. The family was about to get bigger.